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Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
First off, those that deny the threat of the virus to your health, this thread is not for you. Please keep driving and making great money. No one really cares.

For those of you in despair about the virus and continuing to drive, you are braver than I. I totally get that you have bills to pay and life is about to be turned upside down for many of us. Its scary times for us all. many of us.

But here is a few points to consider.

The only income that matters in the rideshare game is what YOU are earning daily. If others are earning a whole lot more, good for them. But that will not pay your bills. The only money that matters is what is going to get transferred to your bank account.

If you have seen a massive downturn in income, thats to be expected. After all, people are working from home, out of employment and simply not travelling. If you are thinking that you will give it "one more day" or "another week", you already know the reality. It's a harsh reality. But deep down, you know what is going to happen tomorrow, or maybe next week.

There is a reason why our conservative Federal Government is being historically generous with income support. They know what the future holds. They know the economic reality. They have the medical community advising them of the risks - not some forum posters with dubious intentions.

FUber know that the threat is real. They shut down pOO. Probably not for driver safety, but for that of the passengers. They also closed down their Greenlight Hubs when the Service New South Wales offices remain open as do other walk in agencies like post offices and banks. These hubs remain closed, even while phone support is crippled. You would have to ask why? Surely they fear that their staff might be at risk of catching something off a high risk group - drivers. Its about protecting FUber corporate staff, dressed up as best practice. Why else would Service NSW offices be open.........or hairdressers for that matter?

Our government is urging us to stay home, at massive cost to the economy. This is a government that retains power due to a reputation of being fiscally conservative. Yet they want you to stay home. I totally get it if there is great demand for this "essential service", but there is not.

What about the guilt you will feel if you catch something, and infect a loved one? Sure, it might not kill them, but surely you will need to go into self isolation, just like them. That could well be the worst few weeks of your life knowing your continued driving might cause so much distress that you are responsible for.

How are you going looking for other jobs while driving? Chances are its tough for you to do. But if you take a break and are at home, there is a much better chance that you will be able to position yourself for another opportunity.

Finally, if this all blows over and its safe to get back out there, what have you lost? Chances are you will get temporary income support from the government and your bank might help you out for a few months. You can resume driving when you are ready. If you rent a car, there is a good chance you will get a cheaper rental.

If you keep driving due to dire circumstances, I am not having a go. But for those that can, please take a step back. Look at where you are at TODAY. Things are not about to get better in this gig tomorrow. Please consider your options and most importantly, stay safe.
 

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I go out everyday.
i really need the money.
I really don’t care if I get a trip or not as I Know the next trip could be the trip i get infected.
some passengers have face masks and gloves others don’t wear any protection.
no way of knowing who is infected.
at the moment the odds are low But rising by the day. Everyday I think about giving up
risk and reward
 

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You can’t cure stupidity unfortunately!
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Ive moved to uber eats deliveries and eating 2 minute noodles off my 7 dollar delivery.

I'll let you know if eating 2 minute noodles for 6 month is just as bad as corona in 6 months
Just a free tip! A pax told me this in Bondi the South Americans Uber eats steal at least 1-2 deliveries a night and say no one was home. No need to eat 2 minute noodles

I go out everyday.
i really need the money.
I really don't care if I get a trip or not as I Know the next trip could be the trip i get infected.
some passengers have face masks and gloves others don't wear any protection.
no way of knowing who is infected.
at the moment the odds are low But rising by the day. Everyday I think about giving up
risk and reward
What you are earning at the moment is less then the rocknroll plus other benefits, don't risk it! Calculate your costs and weigh up the risk
 

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
I go out everyday.
i really need the money.
I really don't care if I get a trip or not as I Know the next trip could be the trip i get infected.
some passengers have face masks and gloves others don't wear any protection.
no way of knowing who is infected.
at the moment the odds are low But rising by the day. Everyday I think about giving up
risk and reward
Thanks for sharing.

I saw your earnings this week on another thread. I liked it. Not because I liked it, but because I respect you for being brave enough to publicly admit on this forum how bad earnings are for many honest drivers. I've had days like yours.

My mindset was the same as yours. I had a shocking weekend. I looked at my expenses. My time. My mental well being. The risk just of driving on the road - and then the risk of the virus. Then thinking what am I getting out of driving? The answer, not a lot. So its on hold.

Please take care and look after yourself. No one in this industry is going to look after you. Not the companies, the paxholes or anyone with their hand in your pocket. But rest assured, many of us have been where you are now. I hope you are ok and everything works out. But when it comes to making the decision to stop, barring anything unfortunate, no one is going to tell you its time. You need to make that call yourself.
 

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Ive moved to uber eats deliveries and eating 2 minute noodles off my 7 dollar delivery.

I'll let you know if eating 2 minute noodles for 6 month is just as bad as corona in 6 months
Don't be a fool. But obvious those 2 minutes Noodles are unhealthy with high concentrated sodium content. Switch to fruits and veggies 👌
 

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yes, your health and state of mind first and foremost
calm and happy and you'll be able to make good decisions when the opportunity arises.
AND it WILL !

in the meantime, everyones just got to go with the wave
it will pass. it might seem like ages but it will pass


in the meantime, take the time to do all the little things that everyone misses in the rush of life....
 

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Yeah, this week has been shocking for me as well. Started at 0530 this morning from Castle Hill, slowly made my way to North Sydney. Only managed to get one ride ($27) and nothing till 9am. I totally agree with a lot of friends here that this is not the time to drive - we have the will, but there are just no passengers. The time I spend in the car, the kilometers I add to the clock, it's just not worth it anymore.

I have never had great earnings. My best tally in a week was $1700 but that was over 50 hours of driving. Certainly didn't help my mental well being that week. I knew the clock was ticking, but this virus has blown the clock wide open. It's just time to do something else now.
 

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Same, at the current rate, driving 40 to 50 hrs may be just enough to pay for the car rental and petrol.
Risk even without c-19 is now way greater than the reward.
Would have been uberin 4yrs in a few more weeks.
Rather help my wife scream at our kids to do at least some school work from home.
Hopefully can hold off some of the wolves at the door for a few weeks until the centrelink kicks in.
Good luck to us all.

Nobody told me there would be days like these
Strange days indeed

Stay safe and well everyone
Walt
 

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Discussion Starter · #13 ·

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Ive been saying here for over 2 years now that ride share will continue to get worse and not better, and this unforeseen event has just made it much clearer that ride share is not a medium/long term solution. It is something close to a scam, a waste of one’s limited hours on earth. What seems like an easy way to make some quick money becomes a never ending cycle of chasing the carrot on the stick just how ride share companies want it. They don’t give drivers a second thought, not for a second. I don’t do Uber anymore but I bet they have not offered any support to drivers, just the same old bs rhetoric and nothing tangible. I sometimes do Deliveroo and they sent out an email to say that we can send them our receipt and they will give us $10 for hand sanatizer LOL can you believe these companies!

The only way to beat them is to get out of the game. They are vulchers and will use drivers as much as they can.

I can’t see anyone earning much more than what the government payment is on a weekly basis so this is a great opportunity to take the government handout, stop driving and just have a few days to think about your options and maybe with some difficult decisions, make a move for the better.

When you have bills coming in every week it’s hard to stop and think about Other options because you can’t afford to stop and it just becomes a cycle that you can’t get out of and before you know it months become years. I’ve been there myself.

I would look at this as an opportunity to take a breather and think about other possibilities.The. Goverment handout will at least cover some bills so you won’t be earning nothing. Almost everyone is doing it tough so you are not alone And there are always other ways, always. Hope everyone stays healthy and positive and we all come out the other side and life gets better to us all.
 

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First off, those that deny the threat of the virus to your health, this thread is not for you. Please keep driving and making great money. No one really cares.

For those of you in despair about the virus and continuing to drive, you are braver than I. I totally get that you have bills to pay and life is about to be turned upside down for many of us. Its scary times for us all. many of us.

But here is a few points to consider.

The only income that matters in the rideshare game is what YOU are earning daily. If others are earning a whole lot more, good for them. But that will not pay your bills. The only money that matters is what is going to get transferred to your bank account.

If you have seen a massive downturn in income, thats to be expected. After all, people are working from home, out of employment and simply not travelling. If you are thinking that you will give it "one more day" or "another week", you already know the reality. It's a harsh reality. But deep down, you know what is going to happen tomorrow, or maybe next week.

There is a reason why our conservative Federal Government is being historically generous with income support. They know what the future holds. They know the economic reality. They have the medical community advising them of the risks - not some forum posters with dubious intentions.

FUber know that the threat is real. They shut down pOO. Probably not for driver safety, but for that of the passengers. They also closed down their Greenlight Hubs when the Service New South Wales offices remain open as do other walk in agencies like post offices and banks. These hubs remain closed, even while phone support is crippled. You would have to ask why? Surely they fear that their staff might be at risk of catching something off a high risk group - drivers. Its about protecting FUber corporate staff, dressed up as best practice. Why else would Service NSW offices be open.........or hairdressers for that matter?

Our government is urging us to stay home, at massive cost to the economy. This is a government that retains power due to a reputation of being fiscally conservative. Yet they want you to stay home. I totally get it if there is great demand for this "essential service", but there is not.

What about the guilt you will feel if you catch something, and infect a loved one? Sure, it might not kill them, but surely you will need to go into self isolation, just like them. That could well be the worst few weeks of your life knowing your continued driving might cause so much distress that you are responsible for.

How are you going looking for other jobs while driving? Chances are its tough for you to do. But if you take a break and are at home, there is a much better chance that you will be able to position yourself for another opportunity.

Finally, if this all blows over and its safe to get back out there, what have you lost? Chances are you will get temporary income support from the government and your bank might help you out for a few months. You can resume driving when you are ready. If you rent a car, there is a good chance you will get a cheaper rental.

If you keep driving due to dire circumstances, I am not having a go. But for those that can, please take a step back. Look at where you are at TODAY. Things are not about to get better in this gig tomorrow. Please consider your options and most importantly, stay safe.
You're a great writer, you write with intelligence with a lot of heart and mostly charm, i enjoy reading your opinions, you're an interesting gal or guy

Ive moved to uber eats deliveries and eating 2 minute noodles off my 7 dollar delivery.

I'll let you know if eating 2 minute noodles for 6 month is just as bad as corona in 6 months
Did you move recently from uber passengers to uber eats,
if you get a centrelink number go past the salvos they will give you a food hamper.

Yeah, this week has been shocking for me as well. Started at 0530 this morning from Castle Hill, slowly made my way to North Sydney. Only managed to get one ride ($27) and nothing till 9am. I totally agree with a lot of friends here that this is not the time to drive - we have the will, but there are just no passengers. The time I spend in the car, the kilometers I add to the clock, it's just not worth it anymore.

I have never had great earnings. My best tally in a week was $1700 but that was over 50 hours of driving. Certainly didn't help my mental well being that week. I knew the clock was ticking, but this virus has blown the clock wide open. It's just time to do something else now.
Loved that you said 'friends' a lot of nasty posters on here nice to read that one word
 

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Discussion Starter · #18 ·
Having skin in the game is irrelevant in choosing what's best for ourselves during these uncertain times........Good luck to you also
Respectfully, I disagree.

Yes, your health should always be a priority.

But for many that judgement might be emotionally clouded, making it harder to walk away from this gig. For example, returning a beat up tissue box Camry on a week to week lease and walking away for this gig would be an easy decision for many.

However if a driver with skin in the game has recently taken delivery of a new Tesla and has expensive lease repayments to maintain and cannot get out of those lease payments (nor negotiate a reduction) , I would argue that it would be harder for them to make the judgement call to walk away from this gig.

Of course, every ones financial position is different. So I do generalise. That said, I have never advocated committing to a large purchase in this industry. Not because I could foresee this virus (and its impacts coming), but because rideshare companies could always change the eligibility rules and rates of payment at a moments notice.
 

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You can’t cure stupidity unfortunately!
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